Loving the Leap! (Foreword)

I can recall a handful of moments when the road forks and opportunities for growth, experience, and adventure appear to appeal to my wanderlusting spirit. However, each of these moments has required a daunting leap of faith into the unknown. Adventure comes at the cost of comfort, and I traded my wonderful life in Calgary that was filled with friends, family, and love, to teach in Japan and travel the world. This was a difficult decision in some ways because there were things that could have kept me in Calgary, and all of them were worth staying for. But living abroad has been a longtime goal of mine and I felt that this opportunity was something that I could not walk away from. With support and encouragement from my amazing loved ones, I took the leap into this life where everything is new and excitingly strange. Although I hope that my life in Calgary will be waiting for me when I return, I know that I will have changed and that lives will continue without me. I can only hope that those I love will remember to make room for me when it is time to return home. Through my globetrotting endeavours I hope to immerse myself in the fascinating dichotomous culture of Japan, connect with interesting new people, and learn how to define myself as an individual apart from my loved ones and my life back home. Armed with a smile, a positive outlook, and an insatiable curiosity for the world I am ready for whatever comes my way. This is an informal documentation of my journey. Read along, comment on anything, and keep in touch!